Israel's supreme court blocked Thursday the early release of a Jewish settler jailed seven years ago for murdering a bound Palestinian man, ruling that he was still a danger to the public.

The court overruled a prison parole board decision to allow the early release of Yoram Skolnik, who was sentenced to life in prison in 1993 for the killing of the Palestinian man who had been apprehended for a stabbing attack.

"At issue here is an ideological murder. We have no indication that Skolnik has abandoned his dangerous doctrine," the seven-judge panel ruled.

Skolnik, from a settlement near the flashpoint West Bank town of Hebron, had previously had his sentence reduced to 15 years by President Ezer Weizman.

The parole board had ruled that Skolnick may be released early because of his "exemplary behavior" and because he had expressed remorse for his actions, but the decision was appealed by Zehava Gal-On, an MP with the left-wing Meretz party - (AFP)